France : Increase in number of practicing Muslims

According to an Ifop survey published on January 17 in La Croix, Muslims are practicing their religion more and more in France.  The survey shows the evolution of Muslim practice from 1989 to 2007.

 The majority of Muslims (71%) consider themselves, in a denominational definition of Islam (“believing Muslims”). Amongst them, 33% declared themselves to be believing and practicing”. 39% said they prayed every day- compared with 31% in 1994 and 33% in 2001-, the most assiduous being persons aged 55 and over(64%), even if the practice among young people is not insignificant (44%  in the 25-34 age group (up 9% since 1989).

 Friday prayer at the Mosque, mainly a man’s thing (34% compared with 12% of women) is  constantly increasing : 16% in 1994, 20% in 2001 and 23% in 2007. Notably among the under 25’s (Up by 13% since 1989) and among the 25-35 age group (up 9% since 1989).

 The practice of Ramadan is clearly increasing if we are to believe the enquiry’s figures : in 1994, 60% of  Muslims said that they fasted for the whole of Ramadan, compared with 70% in 2007. The 55 plus age group remain the more numerous, but the proportion of young people is growing /increasing as much among the under-25’s as those in the 25-34 age group. The percentage of Muslims who say that they do not fast has fallen by 12% since 1989 (32% in 1989 compared with 20% in 2007). (Sources : Apic/La Croix)